Inspired by museum visits as a child, Sylvia discovered and developed her talent for drawing at an early age, ultimately winning a scholarship to the Museum School in Boston. She went on to earn a Bachelor of Fine Art Degree at the Massachusetts College of Art, Boston, and studied further at the University of Colorado at Denver, Art Center School in Los Angeles, and La Romita School of Art, Italy.

French Impressionism and Fauvism had a profound influence during her time as an art student. Reflecting upon the rich palette of nature and landscape, she orchestrates color and design to present impressions which are uniquely personal. As her immediate ancestry goes back to Italy, she draws inspiration from the Italian countryside, with its special light and atmosphere, to infuse a special warmth and color in her work.

Her work has received many awards in juried regional exhibits and in group shows in Colorado, New Mexico and California. She is a member of the San Diego Watercolor Society (SDWS).

“My watercolor paintings often reflect my expression of an idea mixed with a visual impression of what I see before me. With watercolors, one can be spontaneous. I like the physical process of manipulating colors in water to create a warm relatable vision on paper. To me it’s a process that’s stimulating, invigorating and at times, pure joy!”